It was a desperate end to a dismal autumn for Wales, the game ending in further anti-climax as Halfpenny, after a man-of-the-match display, was taken off on a stretcher.

Defeat means Wales will drop out of the top eight in the world rankings ahead of Monday's 2015 World Cup draw and will be in the third band of seedings.

Already without three injured locks among a dozen casualties, Wales appeared to have lost another as early as the third minute when Luke Charteris got his head in the wrong place trying to tackle Scott Higginbotham and was forced to leave the field after lengthy treatment.

The beanpole second-row re-emerged five minutes later to join Lou Reed, the Scarlets lock starting his first Test, in the Welsh engine room, but only lasted until half-time, Ryan Jones replacing him.

Australia, playing their 15th Test in the last six months, showed few signs of physical or mental fatigue initially, despite Beale missing an early penalty.

Official match stats

Wales

Australia

50%

Possession

50%

50%

Territory

50%

5 (0)

Scrums won (lost)

3 (0)

17 (6)

Line-outs won (lost)

10 (0)

12

Pens conceded

14

8

Turnovers conceded

13

75/82

Rucks won

79/85

50

Possession kicked

44

112 (15)

Tackles made (missed)

81 (7)

4

Offloads

9

3

Line breaks

6

(provided by Opta)

They were the first to demonstrate their attacking intent, Adam Ashley-Cooper cutting through the midfield and finding Drew Mitchell on the left wing, but Wales scrambled well in defence.

The hosts were quick to respond. Wales won a scrum on their own line and Rhys Priestland, feigning to kick, instead passed to Jamie Roberts, who in turn released Alex Cuthbert to race 60m up the right touchline.

But the giant wing appeared to delay before trying to find his support, allowing Berrick Barnes to force him into touch.

Wales threatened a try on three more occasions in the first half, the first when Wycliff Palu narrowly beat Sam Warburton to Halfpenny's kick ahead after an electric break from the full-back. Then Liam Williams also opted for a kick rather than keeping ball in hand, before Australia won a turnover after Jonathan Davies had released Cuthbert.

Instead it was Australia who opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Beale going for goal from the halfway line after Matthew Rees was penalised for going off his feet at a ruck.

Halfpenny swiftly replied with a long-ranger from inside his own half, and kicked Wales into a 6-3 lead after 24 minutes when David Pocock, the Wallabies open-side playing his first match since August, was penalised at the breakdown.

Beale soon levelled the scores with his second penalty from halfway and nudged his side ahead four minutes before half-time after Roberts was penalised for taking the ball into contact.

Wales should have been level at the break, but Halfpenny missed a straightforward kick.

The second half began along similar lines to much of the first, the hosts going through a multitude of phases before Australia turned the ball over at a breakdown.

Jonathan DaviesFormer Wales fly-half and BBC expert

"Wales had control of the game and the defensive organisation was not good enough for the try. Australia took their one last chance. They need to redeem themselves in the Six Nations but have to play a lot better."

Barnes pushed a snap drop-goal attempt wide as the Wallabies threatened, Wales requiring a crunching tackle from Halfpenny to deny Mitchell a try, after Barnes had sent the wing through.

But Halfpenny levelled the scores in the 55th minute after Wales won a penalty at a scrum, and put the hosts in front again with his fourth successful kick on the hour.

Australia brought on Mike Harris, the man who broke Welsh hearts with a last-ditch penalty to win the second Test in Melbourne in June, but the full-back missed an opportunity after 67 minutes when he dragged a straightforward attempt wide.

With time ticking down, Wales messed up another line-out in the Australia 22, and the Wallabies broke out from their own line through Mitchell.

Wales repelled the first thrust with another superb Halfpenny tackle, but the Wallabies came again and replacement Dave Dennis exploited an overlap to put Beale over in the right corner, albeit with a suspiciously forward-looking pass.

After a lengthy delay while Halfpenny was attended to, captain Nathan Sharpe - after the 116th and final Test of a magnificent career - headed off into retirement by missing the conversion.

Wales 6N back row was a tight mobile hi tempo machine - if a part gets injured you do not replace it with a different part i.e. RJ (who is a good player) what you should do is replace it with a similar part and build a machine with backups ie Shingler or Tipuric should have been the choices, its things like this that make a big difference and I do not understand why the coaches dont realize this

@280 - yes I was generalizing over the autumn series re ryan jones. I think gatland is a clouseau who does not fully understand why wales win and why they lose. The rest have caught up re fitness and we have not raised the bar by making the most of our natural ball players. North to replace Roberts and hook to start every game at 10 would be a sensible start.

Unfortunately it's all be said before over the last twenty odd years, Wales still won't learn from hammerings in the past, YOU CAN'T KICK THE BALL AWAY IF YOU CAN'T WIN IT BACK, How many times do the players need to be told, its getting boring now. Wales lacked any penetration, kicked aimlessly to touch with no chance of winning the line out? same old crap all the time.

I was born in Wales but "our Dad" was English,thanks be to God.Well done England. These Welsh Rugby internationals haven't got a brain between them. Too many Llanelli"West is Best" players in the squad Tootie

If i hear how another wales international is at a high street chicken restaurant ''bulking'' or out on a sunday night after the game i might just go mad !! the fact these professionals gloat about what they are up to after such an awful display during the internationals is a disgrace !! they should all hang there heads in shame ,,good luck in the RWC 2015 !!

Aside from the fact it was a forward pass for the try, why we kicked the ball back to them with 1min to go I do not know. Hold on to the ball, nothing silly & go through 3 or 4 phases, that's all that was needed. I agree with comments RE: Matthew Rees. Half the time I don't think the welsh players knew where he was throwing the ball. Had that part of the game been ok, we'd have won, no doubt.

@287 couldn't agree more. RP is a decent player but has zero confidence, he put halfpenny under unnecessary pressure numerous times because he didn't have the confidence to clear his lines himself. When he did try and kick for touch he missed! Williams on the wing had a better kicking game than RP. Hopefully Bigger will start in the 6Ns and lets hope RP can regain his confidence!

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